Operator station and support

ABSTRACT

A rigid support structure, formed as an integral part of a vehicle such as a large earthmoving machine. The structure incorporates the lower half of an operator&#39;&#39;s station safety cab, the upper portion of the cab being removable therefrom.

United States Patent Lawrence F. Clancy Peoria;

Frank A. Grooss; Richard W. Luttrell, Morton, 111.

Feb. 28, 1969 May 11, 1971 Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Peoria, 111.

inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee OPERATOR STATION AND SUPPORT 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 180/89, 296/28C, 98/2R Int. Cl B6211 33/06 Field of Search 296/28 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,052,471 8/1936 Hula (296/28UX) 2,583,918 1/1952 Wilson 296/28X 2,845,133 7/1958 NorrieetaL. 180/89X 3,055,699 9/1962 May 180/89X 3,215,466 11/1965 Fritzmeier... 296/28X 3,339,967 9/1967 Harris 296/28 3,401,619 9/1968 Sotory 98/2X 3,472,147 10/1969 Grasseler 98/2X Primary Examiner-Kenneth 1-1. Betts Attomey-Fryer, Tjensvold, Feix, Phillips & Lempio ABSTRACT: A rigid support structure, formed as an integral part of a vehicle such as a large earthmoving machine. The structure incorporates the lower half of an operators station safety cab, the upper portion of the cab being removable therefrom.

PATENTEDHAYHIHH 3578.098

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sum 2 OF 6 INVENTORS LAWRENCE F CLANCY FRANK A. GROOSS RICHARD W. LUTTRELL BY K .ID MW'YW/ PATENTED NAYI 1 I971 SHEET 3 [IF 6 INVENTORS LAWRENCE F. CLANCY FRANK AGROOSS v RICHARD w. LUTTRELL K 4-7 5 J2 9) I '7 ATTP-ORNE 15s INVENTORS LAWRENCE F CLANCY FRANK A. GROOSS RICHARD W. LUTTRELL f-r y) IWATT RNEYS PATENIED m1 1 I97! Q sum u UF 6 I W (as By a.-

v PATENIED W1 1 I97! SHEET 5 UF 6 INVENTORS LAWRENCE F CLANCY FRANK A. GROOSS BY RICHARD W. LUTTRELL Q f. (7 W M-+ ATTO EYS PATENIEBNAH 1 ISTI SHEET 8 OF 6 y RICHARD W. LUTTRELL /9- ATT EYS INVENTORS LAWRENCE E CLANCY FRANK A. GROOSS OPERATOR STATION AND SUPPORT BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an operators station support struc' ture and more particularly, to such a structure which forms the lower portion of an environmental safety cab.

Recently, there has been an attempt made to provide earthmoving vehicles with cabs to surround the operator with an environment which is conducive to maximum protection as well as safety. Many of those cabs merely constituted attachments which were secured to the operator's platform of the basic machine and, as such, it has been difficult to provide mountings strong enough to satisfactorily support the structure or to seal them to provide a dust-free environment.

On large earthmoving equipment, having a cab mounted thereon, it is often necessary to remove the cab, such as when shipping the vehicle. This usually is necessitated by clearance requirements, and the removal usually necessitates disconnecting several controls.

In the instant invention, a rigid frame structure is situated beneath the deck area, the rigid structure being capable of supporting a safety cab and also acting as the lower half of the cab while constituting an integral part of the vehicle design.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an operator's station support structure which forms the lower portion of an environmental safety enclosure cab.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an operators station support structure which produces maximum operator safety and comfort.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such a structure which may be satisfactorily pressurized so as to keep all dust out of the cab.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an operator station support structure upon which the upper portion of a cab structure may be mounted.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide such a structure so constructed that upon separation of the upper portion of the cab from the support structure, no vehicular controls must be disconnected.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and claims as illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention and principles thereof and what is now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying these principles. It is recognized that other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used, and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art, without departing from the present invention and purview of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a large earthmoving vehicle, showing an environmental safety cab secured thereto;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the cab illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along a line ll-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the operator's station support structure, partly broken away so as to illustrate various details thereof;

FIG. 4 is a plan or top view of the support structure, again partially broken away to illustrate details thereof;

FIG. 5 is a right side elevation of the support structure; and

FIG. 6 is a view of the support structure taken along a line Vl-Vl in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is generally illustrated an environmental safety cab 11 mounted on a vehicle 13, the cab being suitably fixed to the frame 15 of the vehicle. As shown in phantom in the drawings, an upper portion 17 of the cab is fastened to the lower portion 19 which forms the support structure of this invention.

A two-section door 21 may be situated at the rear of the cab and a deck grating 23 can be secured to each side and to the rear of the support structure. A brace member 25 secured to the frame 15 and to the rear of the support structure 19 aids in fixing the support structure in place. A pressurizer 27 may be fixed to the side of the cab so as to pressurize the cab to keep it dust-free.

FIGS. 3-6 provide detailed illustrations of the support structure which will now be more fully described.

Basically, the supportstructure 19 is fabricated from various plates, channels, and formed members welded or fastened together into an integral unit. The main anchorages for fastening the structure to the frame comprise mounting blocks 29 at the rear of the structure and mounting bars 31 running from the front of the structure back to an access opening 33.

As most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, a pair of irregularly shaped channels 35 are welded to the front ends of the side plates 37 and extend upwardly at an angle from the bars 31. Their upper ends are welded to longitudinally disposed channels 39 which are also welded to the side plates 37. Irregularly shaped angles 41 extend upwardly from the blocks 29 and are welded to the rear ends of channels 39 and also to a cross channel 43 at the rear of the structure. A rear plate 45 is welded to the angles 41 and the channel 43. The angles 41 are also welded to the side plates 37 and to downward extensions 47 on each sideof the rear plate 45 to form boxlike sections.

A pair of specially shaped channels 49, located intermediate the ends of the structure, extend upwardly from the anchoring bars 31 to a cross channel 51 which is welded between the channels 39.

Longitudinally disposed channels 53 are welded between the channels 35 and 49 and longitudinally disposed channels 55 are welded between the channels 49 and the angles 41.

A console bracket 57 is welded between the side plate 37 to enclose the front end of the structure. The bracket 57 includes a floor plate 59 which extends rearwardly until it reaches a cross channel 61 to which it is welded. The cross channel 61 is welded between the longitudinal channels 39.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the console bracket 57 has various apertures 63 into which the necessary gauges and controls may be mounted.

A plate 65 welded to the legs of the cross channel 51 forms a box section and provides a central support for the cab floor plates (not shown). As shown in FIG. 4, a channel 67 is welded between channels 43 and 51 and this channel also forms a support for the floor plates, as well as supporting an operators seat assembly (not shown). The tops of the side plates 37 and the rear plate 45 are bent inwardly to form lips 71 and 73 respectively. These lips, together with the smooth surface afforded by the top of the console bracket 57, provide a fiat surface to which the upper portion 17 of the cab may be suitably fastened.

An angle 75, welded at the left rear corner of the structure betweenthe lip 71 and channel 43, forms one side of an opening 77 at the rear of the structure for the lower section of the two-section door 21. The other side of the opening is formed by a plate 79 and an angle 81 which are welded to the rear plate 45.

If desired, channels 83 can be welded to either or both of the side plates 37 from the lip 71 to the channel 39. This of course, would add extra strength to the structure.

The pressurizer 27 mounted on the right side plate 37 is fitted into a compartment formed by the plates 91 and 93. An additional compartment formed on the right side by plates 91 and 95 may be used for tool storage.

Strips 97, welded to the side plates, and a lower lip 99 on the rear plate may be utilized to provide support for the exterior deck grating 23.

Thus,-this structure may be integrally fastened to the frame 15 of the vehicle by suitable welding, bolting, etc., of the plates, blocks, bars, angles, and channels, and sufficient strength will be inherent in the structure to withstand the vibration associated with large earthmoving equipment.

Further, when it is necessary to remove the upper portion 17 of the cab, this can be accomplished without disconnecting any of the vehicle gauges and controls since all of them are mounted in the support structure within the console frame 57. The provision of suitable finishes and/or sealing at the lips 71 and 73 of the structure will allow the pressurizer 27 to maintain a dust-free environment in the cab thereby reducing operator fatigue. Although the invention has been illustrated and described with reference to a single embodiment, it is obvious that those skilled in the art could alter and modify the preferred embodiment and thus produce a structure which, nevertheless, would remain within the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A vehicle cab support structure comprising means for fixing the structure to the vehicle frame, means therein for supporting an operator's console, means on said structure for supporting deck plates within the structure, means for supporting deck grates outside of the structure, and means thereon for supporting and fastening thereto a removable upper portion of a vehicle cab.

2. in a vehicle cab, an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being readily detachable from said lower portion, said lower portion containing meanstherein for supporting all of the operators control mechanisms and gauges, said upper and lower portions being so dimensional as to height that removal of said upper from said lower portion would tend to materially reduce the overall height of a vehicle to which the cab is attached and thereby facilitate shipment of the vehicle, and means on the lower portion for pressurizing the cab when the upper portion is mounted on the lower portion, thereby maintaining a dust-free environment within the cab.

3. The cab of claim 2 including an opening in the lower section whereby a twosection door may be fitted into the upper and lower portions.

4. The cab of claim 3 further including a two-section door fitted into said opening and movably attached to said cab.

5. The cab of claim 2 including structural means in the lower portion and fastened to the side and rear plates thereof, the structural means being of sufficient strength to support the cab as well as to withstand'off-the-road operation vibration in the vehicle.

6. The cab of claim 2 including means in the lower portion integrally fixing the lower portion to the vehicle frame. 

1. A vehicle cab support structure comprising means for fixing the structure to the vehicle frame, means therein for supporting an operator''s console, means on said structure for supporting deck plates within the structure, means for supporting deck grates outside of the structure, and means thereon for supporting and fastening thereto a removable upper portion of a vehicle cab.
 2. In a vehicle cab, an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being readily detachable from said lower portion, said lower portion containing means therein for supporting all of the operator''s control mechanisms and gauges, said upper and lower portions being so dimensional as to height that removal of said upper from said lower portion would tend to materially reduce the overall height of a vehicle to which the cab is attached and thereby facilitate shipment of the vehicle, and means on the lower portion for pressurizing the cab when the upper portion is mounted on the lower portion, thereby maintaining a dust-free environment within the cab.
 3. The cab of claim 2 including an opening in the lower section whereby a two-section door may be fitted into the upper and lower portions.
 4. The cab of claim 3 further including a two-section door fitted into said opening and movably attached to said cab.
 5. The cab of claim 2 including structural means in the lower portion and fastened to the side and rear plates thereof, the structural means being of sufficient strength to support the cab as well as to withstand off-the-road operation vibration in the vehicle.
 6. The cab of claim 2 including means in the lower portion integrally fixing the lower portion to the vehicle frame. 